Jessica DePinto

Jessica DePinto refers to her grandmother, an immigrant from Italy who arrived in the United States at the age of three, as inspiration behind her love and motivation for teaching. Despite having only a fourth-grade education, Jessica’s grandmother ascended to a leadership position within the Chicago Housing Authority, showcasing untapped potential that Jessica believes could have been fully realized through a program like SCPS. This family legacy fuels Jessica’s dedication to her students, as she sees in them the same potential and drive that her grandmother possessed. 

“I think a lot about her, and I think about the fact that had she had an opportunity to enroll in a school like SCPS, what the trajectory of her life would have been. How much personal satisfaction would she have had with her life and feeling fulfilled with her talent not only as a mother and a grandmother but as a professional woman. What would that have looked like for her?” 

At SCPS, Jessica teaches CPST 335: Law and Regulations for Organizational Leaders, a course that uniquely blends business law with ethical considerations through the lens of Jesuit principles. Jessica’s approach to teaching is holistic; she doesn’t just impart knowledge but also fosters a deeper understanding of the moral and spiritual dimensions of leadership. Her course encourages students to think critically about the ethical implications of their decisions and to seek guidance from a higher moral framework, whether through personal spirituality or Jesuit teachings. 

“I always talk about the hungers of a transformative Jesuit education. How does it link to a particular course? There's going to be instances in your career where it's gray and you must make decisions about what's the right action. As an organizational leader, you must make decisions that aren't always easy decisions, and by seeking something outside of yourself, you’re able to make those decisions in the best possible way.” 

Jessica believes that the best learning occurs in an environment where students are not just passive recipients of information but active participants in a collective learning process. Her ability to create a space where students feel empowered to share their experiences and insights makes her classes a collaborative journey of discovery. 

What Jessica admires most about SCPS students is their resilience. Many of her students juggle multiple responsibilities—careers, families, and personal challenges—while pursuing their education. This balancing act, she believes, cultivates a level of discipline and a hunger for knowledge that sets SCPS students apart. 

“I think that they bring discipline to what they do because they must make all the different pieces of their lives fit together. They also bring curiosity, and I think that it is important, especially nowadays, to have that natural curiosity of wanting to learn and advance. We call it the “growth mindset”. You are willing to learn from mistakes and you're willing to rebound quickly. You approach your work with a natural curiosity.”